Lifting device



1962 T. J. TIMMERMAN 3,

LIFTING DEVICE Filed March 1, 1961 IN VEN TORJ 77/044/15 d TIMMEBMA/V United States 3,056,625 LETHNG DEVICE Thomas J. Timrnerman, 449 Turk St, San Francisco, Calif. Filed Mar. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 92,607 1 Claim. (Cl. 294-106) has heretofore been the practice to handle such bags by hand. This has involved a large amount of labor particularly in handling bags of large sizes.

In accordance with the present invention a grapple is provided which is adapted for lifting a "bag of a commodity by purely mechanical means without in any manner injuring the bag or contents. Further, the device of the present invention is simple to construct and operate and is adapted to lift bags of various sizes either from the sides or from the end of the bag. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the device is made with extremely thin side gripping members so that the device is well adapted for picking up bags even when they are stacked close together with little clearance.

Other advantages and features of the invention are disclosed in the balance of the specification which follows.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

:FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in section, of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view of a device similar to that of FI URE 1 wherein the device had been made adjustable to handle bags of various sizes.

FIGURE 3 is a partial view of an alternate form of side member.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of a grapple having overhead main glands.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are schematic drawings of a suitable valve arrangement for use in conjunction with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 a device having a main frame 3 with a lifting eye 5 thereon. The device has depending fixed side members 7 and 9. Hinged at 11 and 13 are movable side members 15 and 17. Located between and fastened to the side members 7 and 15 and between the side members 9 and 17 are the main glands 19 and 21. Located between the movable members 15 and 17 are the lug glands 23 and 25. A source of air or vacuum from the line 27 leads to the lines 29 and 31 which in turn lead to the interiors of the main glands. Preferably these passages to the main glands are located at the ends of the glands so that the side members can be made as thin as possible. An auxiliary passage as at 33 leads from each of the main glands to its mating lug gland, or a tube can connect the two glands at the ends thereof. Preferably the glands are cemented or vulcanized to the corresponding side members only near their centers, to provide minimum interference with the movement of the glands. Thus the main and lug glands can be placed under pressure or a vacuum simultaneously.

In FIGURE 2 a similar device is shown but one wherein the side members corresponding to 7 and 9 in FIGURE 1 are movable with respect to the frame. Here the frame 3 is bolted to the L-shaped members 35 and 37 which form part of the side members 7 and 9, and the other parts as previously described. Either the frame 3 or the members 35 and 37 can be provided with a plurality of atent G 3,956,625 Patented Oct. 2, 1962 holes or slots so that the members 7 and 9 can be separated by any fixed distance within the range of adjustment and clamped into place. This structure is particularly advantageous when a given installation desires to handle bags of different sizes and thus avoids the necessity of employing a separate head for each size of bag to be handled.

Although the structures shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 are highly advantageous since they have both collapsible main and lug glands and can thus lift bags which are stacked closely together, in some instances a simpler structure can be employed. Thus, in FIGURE 3, a frame member 39 has a side member 41 thereon with a movable member 43 hinged thereto at 45. Instead of using the inflatable-defiatable lug gland heretofore described, a solid lug 47 may be employed. The main gland 49 is connected to a source of pressure, not shown. A spring 51 serves to retract the main gland when the air pressure is released.

The device shown in FIGURE 4 utilizes overhead main glands or other actuating mechanisms. Here the frame 55 has a lifting bracket 57 and uprights 59 and 61 at each end of the frame. Side members 67 and 69 are pivoted to the frame at 63 and 65. Located between the uprights and the corresponding side members are the main glands 71 and 73 while lug glands 75 and 77 are provided near the lower ends of the side members. Instead of the main glands, the side members can be actuated by other mechanical means such as a screw or hydraulic cylinder.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show how a two-way valve can be applied to actuate the device shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. Here air pressure is applied through line 81 to the valve 83 while a second line 85 leads to the glands heretofore described. A third line 87 leads to the inlet side of an ejector 89 while a fourth line 91 leads to the outlet side of the ejector. Thus when the valve is in the position shown in FIGURE 5 pressure will be applied to the glands while if the valve is turned one quarter of a revolution as is shown in FIGURE 6, vacuum is applied to the glands.

Turning now to a description of the operation of the device and referring particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, vacuum is first applied to the line 27 collapsing both of the glands as is shown in FIGURE 2. The device may then be placed over a bag 93 and air pressure applied to the glands whereupon both the main gland and the lug gland will be expanded, firmly yet gently gripping the bag 93 so that it can be lifted. After the bag has been deposited in the desired position, vacuum is again applied, releasing the bag and restoring the parts to the position shown in FIGURE 2 for a repetition of the cycle.

The method of operation of the device shown in FIG- URE 4 is substantially the same as that of FIGURES 1 and 2.

The length of the device and the size of the lifting glands will depend to some extent on the nature of the material being lifted and also whether the bags are being lifted from the sides or the ends.

It is not necessary to employ power at all times when using the device but only momentarily when the glands are being inflated or deflated. At all other times, all valves are closed, e.g. when using the valve shown in FIGURE 5, it is turned /8 revolution so the lines 81 and 85 are sealed.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a simple yet efiective grapple for lifting burlap or paper bags without injuring the bag and one which is adapted for lifting bags which are stacked close together.

I claim: A device for lifting bags or the like comprising a frame membee having fixed side members extended upwardly tom portions of the movable side members toward each therefrom, a pair of opposed movable side members other whereby a bag can be gripped therebetween. hinged to said frame, said side movable members extending downwardly from said frame to provide gripping Referemes (Iii-955, n. h fiifi 0f '[hls l9 surfaces and extending upwardly from said frame to a 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS height approximately equal the height of said fixed side members, and an inflatable gland between each of said ggg g g s b fixed side mem ers and each of said movable side mem 2,416,575 Fomaine Feb 25 1947 bers whereby said glands can be inflated, moving the bot- 

